We gotta stop giving away America to those that do not have a clue about our country. The came here for good or evil. The good are the ones who have come to our country got betterment of themselves or their family. The evil ones have come because they are criminals thrown out of their own countries. Then they want what is ours given to them. A cop ask someone involved in a crime "where you from boy?" and he is an illegal and the cop gets fired. We gotta get the vote out, take Washington back, then restore Miami Port and start shipping the criminals back to their misery.
Then we need to start a hunt down of those responsible for this Gas price increase and prosecute them to the full extent of the law. This should go from Texas to the Whitehouse, capitol hill and the Middle east .
It's not to late to take our country back. Get started

The worst of the entitlements are the able bodied folks drawing disability, most I know are under 55 and quite capable of answering a phone or typing, or filing.

Then there is the EITC, and more and more people are playing this system. There are men taking up with women to claim the children as their dependents or the parents claiming the same children through different addresses. Seems like our checks and balances have failed, and all we have now is the checks we send out to the many who are lined up at the trough of the hardworking taxpayers.

It makes me sick when people brag about the the large amounts of money they are refunded, which they never paid in, you would think they won the lottery.

I think until the government starts following up on the legitamacy of these claims and pmts, we will continue to stay on the slippery slope of insolvency where we are.

BTW, I also think that we should make all our public servants work like we do, if you don't work you don't get paid. We might actually have more warm bodies on the house and senate floors.

The countries in Asia make the families or friends pay for the prisoners food or bring it in or the prisoner does not eat. The United
States had a service man in Turkey and we
had to supply him food or he would have died.
Let us take up this view and see how many families stay true to their son's in prison.

I think one issue is we reward people that aren't married. You are eligible for all kinds of entitlements as long as you aren't married. This is the mentality that has created alot of single parent homes and children without fathers. I was a single parent because it was what was best for my child, not what was best for my pocketbook. There are always those with the thinking that "if they are going to get there's, then I am going to get mine." I remember when people were ashamed to accept help from the government, even if they desperately needed it. Now it is a way of life that is boasted about.

Lee, you are so right on.. Even the IRS gives
breaks to the unmarried, especially with kids.
they pay them back more than they put in taxes
every year. It is called the marriage penalty!
We are not the christian country we use to be.

It's funny to me that a prisoner feels they are entitled to anything. You committed the crime and your punishment is a roof over your head, no bills, free food, and a free education. If the government focused a third of this attention to our students that are suffering, we wouldn't have so many problems in our society. It's almost like your being awarded to be a burden on society. Stop laying off teachers and give them the resources they need to build a better future through our youth.

Let's start with the entitlements to oil companies and the richest 2% of the population. How about protecting the middle class while we still have one? How are things going in Wisconsin with Walker? Thought this was a news site.

(CNN) -- Gov. Scott Walker warned that Wisconsin could take steps Friday to lay off 1,500 state workers -- unless 14 absent lawmakers return to the state Capitol.

The lawmakers fled to Illinois to prevent a quorum for voting on the state's budget repair bill, which would limit collective bargaining to wages and require public workers, with the exception of police and firefighters, to cover more of their retirement plans and health care premiums.

Walker has said the measure is needed to get the state's financial house in order.

He said Thursday night that the state would "have a legal and moral obligation to start forewarning people" of impending layoffs if the legislators did not return to the Capitol at once to vote on the measure. He warned the state could send layoff notices before the weekend.

You are so right on this article, Walter. I have held back on blogging on it because I get so pissed off I cannot behave when I try to respond. When I can chill out good enough to reply, I want to express my opinion on these tax ticks, pitiful ass prisoners, failing students with their cheating teachers and the dignity that they all deserve.

That's funny. You never "hold back" your ignorant thoughts before. What it truly boils down to is that you yourself has an expectation of entitlements. Giving your activity on this site, it appears you're either unemployed, or employed with a company that has a very poor working standard. It's easy to see that you clearly expect some entitlements coming your way.

You don't have a "thought" on this issue because the government is clearly assisting you in living. So keep passing up this particular story as it's going to be a conflict of interest.

Well that clears up the question of you knowing me, Mr. Wilson. I started paying taxes at 14 years old working in a peach packing plant on a work permit in Thomaston, Georgia, how about you? I was only $800 short of making a million, WHICH I PAID TAXES ON, when I stopped working? So you will see my blogs here as long as fools like you care to converse with me. Now get off this blog and check your EBT balance. By the way, I saw a commercial last night that sorry tax ticks like you can get a free cell phone now on taxpayers money...get you one. Are you still using? It is bad when I know you and you do not know me, isn't it?

Walter, as a hardworking citizen of this country I really apreciate you "SAYING IT AS IT IS" this country needs to stop taking for the working class and giving to the ones who think that they are ENTITLED. I am also addressing this to my ex family who from the word go, play the system and they are NOT entitled to get something for nothing. I have been accused of defamation of character for telling my step granddaughter that she needs to give her baby the baby's daddy last name and making sure that he pays child support. I know that I am portrayed as a bitter angry person but it is very hard to have a positive attitude towards these people who think that they shouldn't have to work hard to make a living but are riding on the taxpayers back. My boss has cut my hours at work but yet she gives the ones that get food stamps more hours where is that fair? I have to pay bills like everyone else but I can't get her to give me more hours because she doesn't like me because I tell it like it is and have an opinion about it. I work hard and do alot more than the other workers but I am being punished for it.
STOPE THE ENTITLEMENTS maybe then I can have the happy go lucky attitude of my co workers because I will know that they are not eating my lunch while I do without!! She also gets foodstamps. Another thing I feel is that the working class people should have a say in what the foodstamps are being used for. where is it fair that they can tote cellphones have their nails and hair done yet they can't work. If you can't find a job then you have plenty of time to stay at home and take care of you kids.

#14.1 It is not true, just because you have an opinion about the injustices the government place on the taxpayer that you expect to get entitlements, it is just that we are tired of seeing lazy people get something for nothing and live better than someone who pays taxes.

There is nothing wrong with every valedictorian and every class clown going to college........but there is something wrong with changing the rules after the lotto was elected to be legal in Georgia to support successful students.

Answer this question that Walter asked in his article. "Why is a program designed to reward academic achievement paying for remedial education in the first place?"

Remedy is the root word for remedial. It was not the intention of the lotto to "fix" the study habits or "tutor" failures in high school.

Walter has it exactly right. We have taken a good idea and allowed it to morph into "yet another" freeloaders paradise. What will we do when these Remedial Graduates get through with their career classes? No worry? Us taxpayers will continue to be screwed so that "No failure is left behind."

If I could just make rules for one day that were mandated for one year.......everyone's taxes would be SIGNIFICANTLY reduced, I guarantee you that! I would be assassinated by a loser or abuser but it would be worth it.

AND I will say it one more time Sheila, Education is a must, just look at you, its sooo apparent you have only a LCCH diploma and that ain't much.
You have no original thought or intelligent argument. Every week you vomit up the same of retoric that you probably heard your hate-mongering, uneducated, daddy drilled in your head.
You should take advantage of that Hope grant and expand your mind. The upcoming generation need a higher education in order to compete in this global market, but you probably do not know what a global market is. You probably think I talking about Giant Mart.

That's the problem, right there! My children do not HAVE to compete in a global market. If you choose to force that upon your kids, well that's your choice. There are things more important than money. And there are better ways to measure success. If you feel that competing in a global market is that much of a priority, then move to Atlanta where there is more of a global market. Stop trying to change this small town and the people in it.
The U.S could be totally self-sufficient if OUR government would butt out of everyone else business. Also stop kissing the A$$ of every other country on the planet.

How wrong you are "lil fool." You are a Parental Tax Tick trying to teach your Baby Ticks to take a free ride on the taxpayers. Global Market Hell. The entire world is trying to get into The United States. We cannot even make sheets and pillow cases in America anymore. Why do they want to come here? For a free ride baby........just like you want.

I wish they would give the lotto funds to The Humane Society. We can use Frontline on animal ticks. Your kind of ticks reproduce with each tax sucking REMEDIAL generation.

The people in my family worked their way through college. W-O-R-K, it is a one syllable word. Look it up in your Global dictionary.

And one more thing.........you DAMN sure do not know my family if you think my Daddy drilled anything into my head.

You and people like you are the reason the once great United States owes its ass to China.

Anonymous....We should have guessed that much. I would be ashamed to put my name out there also if I thought as you do.

I say that you are uneducated because you call The Hope scholorship monies "your taxes", when it is not. It is funded by, get this, mostly poor people of all colors, who stand in line and purchase lotto tickets. So it does not belong to you and anyone else ranting about "my tax dollars"! You would have known this if you would read sometimes.

That is why I said you needed to use that money to get you an education.
Poor people are funding that Hope scholorship pot and their children who you think are not deserving are benefiting from that money and become productive, THINKING, citizens that are not afraid to question everything before calling it truth.
So Hope Scholarship money is paid into by poor people and is invested into poor people and other deserving people.
So why is the GOv. messing with it in the first place? That is what you should be asking yourself instead of ranting and raving about Deserving people making themselves marketable.

Maybe those poor people you are speaking of should think about buying groceries for their family instead of playing the lotto. What do you think?

The Governor is "fooling" with it because there is not enough to go around anymore since people like you think it should be used for everybody....regardless of test scores. Do you think more people are going to college because of The Hope Scholarship? If the "POOR"gambling parents had put all lotto money in the bank since their kids were born.......they would not have a need to worry about what the governor does with the money, would they? What is wrong with kids getting jobs and working their way through college?

Oh I forgot. They may learn a sense of responsibility also.....that would be terrible, wouldn't it?

Why are you ashamed to put your name on the blog.............are you a hypocrite? You probably trade off your EBT tax paid benefits to friends for money to purchase lotto tickets.

WRONG! In the past it may have been a symbol of knowledge. Now, SOMETIMES, it just means that: The "No child left behind program" is in high gear, OR the teachers got by with changing the scores without getting caught.

Don't act stupid. If you are young, you are forgiven..you have never lived in an environment when "one" worked for what they received...and as 'cats' pointed out "were ashamed to take welfare and entitlements."

If you are 50 or over, you are just a tax tick raising tax parasites for the future.

Answer this for me, Anonnymous. Why all the bitching about the Hope (lotto money) being decreased to 90%? That should not keep a hard working, scholastically qualified student out of college. It did not keep my siblings out who wanted to further their education. What is the gripe about...can you answer that for me..you seem so intelligent. I am sure you have the answer.

Do all your entitlements come as Anonymous or do they actually have your name on them?

Because of "Tax Ticks" , we need to put our Trust in God or Hope in the Pope because we cannot piss away enough money gambling to support ALL OF THE PEOPLE LIKE YOU!

We finally got you ASKING questions, just not intelligent ones yet. I knew you were gonna do the "Sheila Shuffle" by avoiding the questions.

G.E.D stands for Good Enough Diploma
and I won't insult anyone who worked hard and acheived one.

Let's talk about the biggest entitlement program of all "Public Education". Why don't we get rid of it also? I mean according to you and others, some of "us people" don't deserve any entitlements.

Did you go to public school? And if so, what did you do to deserve it. Are you a tick because you received a public education? Or did your hardworking parents put you through Private school? Or are you just a hypocrite?

I attended public school for 12 years. I rode the bus for twelve years. I borrowed lunch money (.35) from Mrs. Nellie Sandefur, my neighbor, for many, many lunches. But my Mama always sent me to pay her back on her payday from Martha Mills. I thought I was entitled to a Daddy but he thought different, you see. He jumped a Greyhound bus when I was three...never to return. So my brother, sister and I made it the hard way. I even thought I was entitled to indoor plumbing a few times when I spent the night with friends and saw their advantages..but that didn't happen either. It was easy to think the grass was greener on the other side but I look back now and that old garden that my Mama and my siblings and I share cropped for Mr. Benton Sandefur, was a beautiful shade of green. I never said NO ONE is eligible for entitlements I said EVERYONE is not deserving of them. They are way too common and much too expected in today's world. Anyone who grew up with "tuff times" realizes that, my dear. The grades are the tough part, when a person makes the grade they can make it to and through college. Hard work never killed anyone. Find the movie "Homeless to Harvard" and watch it...then get back with me. Will you do that?

It was the best of times...it was the worst of times.....that was my young life Anonymous. I would not trade all the money in the current "give away" programs for even one of my hungry or sleepless young nights. We never knew where our next meal or set of clothes would come from...but we knew damn well, we would pay someone for them through hard work.

(Thank you Mama. You are in Heaven and you are the BEST! I miss you and I still cry...but you made us tough.)

We had to drop out of school in order to help feed our brothers and sisters. We picked pecans, cotton, peaches etc. When we did go to school we were hungry..too hungry to concentrate on the school lessons. Our daddy was killed! We drew water from a well everyday heated the water in the fireplace. When we went to bed we could see the night sky thru the roof. And during the winter the cold wind would blow thru the cracks in the walls and the floor boards.
There was no school bus we walked 2 to 5 miles to school when we did go.
We had to make a choice between EATING or education. If we ate fried fatback with greens and dog bread(cornmeal no oil) it was a good day. A lot of times we went to bed hungry, walked to school hungry, came home and started all over again.
We survived, I survived, I got a job at carter's and took advantage of that entitlement called "night school" it took me a longtime to get it, but I got it. see race isn't won by the swift, but to us that endures!
And when my husband decided that he didn't want that role anymore. I took that entitlement called foodstamps. See child support wasn't enforced back then.
Women and children take the brunt of poverty.
Thank God women can depend on her education wheather daddy and momma cut a check for it, or Hope pays for it.

So your Dad was killed and mine left by choice.
Child support was not even a word that i ever heard "back then." You drew your water from your well, we carried ours from the neighbor's well-house...Mrs. Betty Sandefur.....I have sent her a few "Thank You" letters for that privilege since I have gotten older. I love Betty and all her children.

How many children do you have? If the kids today ate what you ate, and worked like you worked.....they would not need Hope Grants. They could pay their way through college by working. You and I both are two very lucky women. We have seen and survived the "unsupported side of life." I wish the kids today could have a few hungry moments. Maybe they could lose some of the OBESITY that is served so cheap at Mc Donald's and every other drive-thru.

Did you appreciate your poor days as I do? I would take nothing for them.

I have really enjoyed conversing with you. Maybe some teens will read the blogs and learn a tad of appreciation from them.

We are lucky women, while I survived my daughters thrived and my grandchildren soars!
And whatever entitlements we, You and anybody else use(d) is not for a handful of people to judge from a distance. We ALL have a story of struggle.
Its easy to to direct our frusturations on poor people, which consist mainly of women and children. Let's keep education accessible because it enpowers women and keeps them out of poverty.
Survival is good, but I'd prefer to soar.

Soar like an Eagle! ......just be sure all that have used entitlements used them wisely. They will be gone one day. I hope I live long enough to see everyone have a need to work for what they receive. Rich people owe you and me and our children NOTHING. If their wealth was obtained in a legal manner and they go by the established tax rules. They have done their part.

A smart woman is one who thinks far enough ahead that she has the amount of children she can support on her own. Not by crying "child support...welfare...free phone...free medicine...EBT...ECT."

Give your child an EBT fish, he will eat a meal....teach him to fish and he could be The Gorton Fisherman.

Why do you insist that poverty only affects women and children? Men do not give birth. Evidently Women somewhere are breeding but not feeding. Don't you agree?

How many people here are old enough to remember the days when those who received pubic assistance were embarrassed to be seen handing over their food stamps, etc? I do.
As for the prisoner's entitlements, I think they get a meal, a cot, and medical if needed. Television, books, and certainly education are extras that they should have to earn.

I remember, but we were blessed. We were farmers and I spent all of my time in the fields when school was out. I chopped cotton and I picked cotton. We never needed wel-fare, but, their were others that had no choice, and yes, they were ashame.

My neice was qualified to get the hope scholarship but they passed her over to give it to someone who didn't have the money to go to college. Hope should never have been anyone's free ticket to higher learning but to help supplement the college expenses. No free rides for those who don't deserve it.

HOPE does have requirements. At present a GPA of 3.2 is required to qualify for HOPE. Gov. Deal wants to raise that requirement to 3.7 with a SAT score of 1200. If he gets his way, this will weed out many, many, students who could succeed in college. A large majority of high school seniors graduate without a SAT score of 1200. Neither of my children had SAT scores of 1200, but both had GPA's of 3.7 or above. Both have graduated college one Cum Laude the other Magna Cum Laude. Both were HOPE receipents and in my opinion, both deserved the HOPE scholarship.

Pell Grant....now that's another story. Overused and abused entitlement program if there ever was one.

Read this and weep...........
"The release of SAT scores Monday found a handful of Georgia schools soaring. But collectively the state's schools landed once again at the bottom of the heap at 48th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Georgia's public, private and home school students in the Class of 2010 scored an average of 1,453 on the SAT, down seven points from 2009. The scores -- for students taking the test at least once in 2010 -- trailed their peers' national average of 1,509.

Scores were down in two of the three categories tested. The 66,019 Georgia students who took the test saw their math score drop from 493 in 2009 to 490 this year, and their writing score fell from 491 to 475 over the same period. Their reading score, however, rose from 479 in 2009 to 488 this year. State students' scores fell in all three categories in 2009.

While its score was among the lowest, Georgia had the eighth-highest participation rate at 74 percent. Approximately 44.6 percent were minority students, up from 35.0 percent in 2005 and 30.4 percent in 2000."

Read that last paragraph real slow before you get all excited...it means that:

Our students know they would rather get paid to skim through college for years, even if they eventually fail, than go to work!

Watch the movie " Waiting for Superman" This should be played at the ritz park every weekend this coming up month and let the community view it. This is a true public service. This will open anyones eyes.

I find it interesting, that in the print edition, the County Claims a Hundred Thousand Dollar Surplus. At the same time they are advertising for a County Manager, who will probably consume that surplus. I feel there is alot of nonsense in the running of our county. I would think since there is a surplus, they would hold those funds and use them to make the county get on the basis of a balanced budget.

Perhaps we should do away with county commissioners and "ELECT" a county manager - or we could insist that the commissioners do their job rather than make efforts to hire a single person to do it for them.

Just eliminate the Commissioners and make pertinent decisions by qualified voters who show up at the meetings when required. It is taxpayers money......spend it like the majority wants............save commissioners salaries. Meanwhile...Gretchen still owes us money.